16 to receive gold medals and certificatesJanashakthi Insurance the first to felicitate our retired cricket umpires

Cricket
umpires around the world are called the "Gentlemen in the White Coat" who belong
to their respective associations under the title (ACU and the name of the country) which
means Association of Cricket Umpires. For example, in Sri Lanka it was known earlier as
the ACUSL (Association of Cricket Umpires Sri Lanka) which today has been modified as The
Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers Sri Lanka.

It should be noted that all ACUSLs are affiliated to the ACU in England which is the
headquarters.

To become an umpire; one has to qualify by officiating the required percentage of marks
after sitting for a written examination set by the Board of Examinations of his respective
ACU. The exam is set on the 42 Laws of Cricket and its amendments laid down by the
Marylebone Cricket Club in London. The minimum pass mark is 80 per cent.

Also, every ACU comes under the purview of its respective Board of Control for Cricket.

Talking of the ACUSL, it was originated by the late Dodwell Soyza of the Survey
Generals Department in the thirties and had in it such umpires as Johnny Murray,
Lucky Mayo, Laddie Bakelmun, Clifford John, A. C. Ahmath (Snr), Joe Saverimuttu, E. V.
Gunasekera etc.

Subsequently, the association was kept alive by a further large membership and today it
stands as an indispensable body.

Sri Lanka became a full fledged Test playing nation in 1982 and eversince several
Lankan umpires have officiated in Tests and ODIs played by Sri Lanka and also in similar
matches played by other Test nations under the law laid down by the ICC which deals with
neutral umpires.

Many senior Sri Lankan umpires are now retired under the age rule and have gone down
the lane of forgotten memories. The untiring and admirable services rendered by them to
the country, the game and also the game authorities seem to have been written on sand.

However, for the very first time an outside source has come forward to honour and
appreciate the good work done by 16 retired senior umpires. It is Janashakthi Insurance
Company who will award those umpires with gold medals and certificates at a felicitation
ceremony to be held at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Wanathamulla, Borella on January 30
(Thursday) at 4.00 p.m. A tea party for all invitees present will follow the felicitation
ceremony.

Among the 16 recipients will be veteran Granville Hamer (Snr.) (now in
his late eighties) and Ajith C. S. Perera who is presently confined to a
wheel chair after he became a paraplegic following an unforseen accident about 10 years
ago when a branch of a massive tree in Bullers Road Colombo fell on his moving car (on the
eve of officiating in his first Test match).

Janashakthi Insurance Co. Ltd Managing Director Chandra T. A. Schaffter will be the
chief guest with Media Minister Imthiasz Bakeer Markar as guest of honour. An official
from the ACU+S England will be a special invitee. (RLF)